TheRepublic.com - European Union News

G-8 seeks unity on Syrian peace talks, tax evasion

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:51:26 -0400

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland - President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other G-8 leaders attempted to speak with one voice Tuesday on seeking a negotiated Syrian peace settlement - yet couldn't publicly agree on whether this means President Bashar Assad must go.

G-8 NOTEBOOK: Cameron Tweets WWII bomb at G-8 site

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:45:56 -0400

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland - Well, that was close. Or was it? Shortly after wrapping up one of the most peaceful Group of Eight summits in recent memory, Prime Minister David Cameron let a cat out of the bag.

Syrian pound tumbles on US plans to arm rebels

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:06:25 -0400

DAMASCUS, Syria - Many exchange shops closed in Damascus on Tuesday, fearing more chaos a day after the Syrian currency plunged to a new record low, reflecting growing fears in the capital following a U.S. decision to arm rebel groups fighting to topple President Bashar Assad's regime.

Greece's public TV still off despite court ruling

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:00:11 -0400

ATHENS, Greece - State TV channels in Greece remained off-air Tuesday as the political storm over the future of public broadcaster ERT raged on, despite a court ruling that the prime minister's decision to pull the plug was wrong.

Obama's influence, limitations on display at G-8

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:53:56 -0400

BERLIN - Now a veteran of the international summit scene, President Barack Obama wielded significant influence over the agenda at this week's Group of Eight meetings, but had only modest success in achieving the results he sought.

EU parliament scraps Turkey visit this week

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:46:32 -0400

BRUSSELS - The European Union has scrapped a parliamentary visit to Turkey following the Ankara government's stinging criticism of an EU resolution about the handling of Turkish protests.

Russia: G-8 declaration won't mention Assad's fate

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:55:15 -0400

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland - The G-8 summit's joint statement on ending the Syrian civil war will not mention whether Bashar Assad must step down from power as part of any peace settlement, a senior Russian diplomat said Tuesday ahead of the document's publication.

WHITE HOUSE NOTEBOOK: Obama, Putin nearby at G-8

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:15:13 -0400

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland - If President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin want some extra quality time together at the Group of 8 meeting, they don't have to go far.

Sweeping US-EU trade talks to start in July

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:52:25 -0400

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland - A top European Union official says talks on a sweeping new free trade agreement between the EU and the US will begin next month.

Obama: US will host first talks on EU trade deal

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:40:37 -0400

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland - President Barack Obama says the U.S. will host the first round of negotiations toward a broad trade deal with the European Union next month in Washington.

EU official: Trade deal with US a 'game-changer'

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:11:12 -0400

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland - The top official with the European Union's executive arm says a free trade deal with the United States would be a "game-changer" for the global economy.

G8 faces uncertain recoveries, turbulent markets

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 08:02:43 -0400

ENNISKILLEN, Northern Ireland - Europe is mired in debt and recession. Financial markets have hit violent ups and downs on fears that U.S. stimulus efforts may soon be scaled back. Japan is finally looking up after years of stagnation - but it remains an open question if the recovery will stick.

Italy approves measures aimed at boosting economy

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 19:19:58 -0400

ROME - The Italian government has adopted a series of measures aimed at boosting the economy, including the release of 3 billion euros ($4 billion) for infrastructure projects projected to create 30,000 new jobs.

Obama trade dilemma: Scant support from Democrats

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 12:29:46 -0400

WASHINGTON - As President Barack Obama pushes an ambitious agenda to liberalize global trading, political trade wars already are forming, and they're with fellow Democrats rather than with Republicans, his usual antagonists.

UN climate talks marred by decision-making spat

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:08:37 -0400

BONN, Germany - U.N. climate talks have hit a stumbling block that some delegates say poses a serious challenge to their already slow-moving attempt to craft a global response to climate change.

Euro fund chief: do without IMF in long term

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 03:55:22 -0400

BERLIN - The head of Europe's bailout fund says the region should eventually aim to do without help from the International Monetary Fund.

Launch of US-EU trade talks may be hitting snag

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:23:44 -0400

WASHINGTON - One of the big goals of President Barack Obama's upcoming trip to Europe may be in jeopardy, with French objections threatening to hold up the launch of negotiations on a sweeping U.S.-European Union free trade pact.

EU presents post-Fukushima nuclear safety rules

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:52:07 -0400

BRUSSELS - The European Commission proposed tougher nuclear safety rules Thursday, amid international debate about the future of nuclear energy and how to secure aging plants.

Strike over EU plan disrupts European flights

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:41:04 -0400

PARIS - A strike by air traffic controllers forced cancellations of more than 60 percent of flights around France and disrupted travel elsewhere in Europe on Wednesday, as workers protested a plan to simplify the continent's patchwork airspace.

ECB official defends crisis measures in court

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:44:26 -0400

KARLSRUHE, Germany - A top European Central Bank official rejected accusations that the bank had exceeded its powers while fighting the financial crisis, telling Germany's supreme court its bond-buying program is only meant to ensure its monetary policy works.

Strike over EU plan disrupts European flights

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:22:35 -0400

Congress briefed on US surveillance programs

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 23:45:39 -0400

WASHINGTON - Dogged by fear and confusion about sweeping spy programs, intelligence officials sought to convince House lawmakers in an unusual briefing Tuesday that the government's years-long collection of phone records and Internet usage is necessary for protecting Americans - and does not trample on their privacy rights.

EU nations battle over air traffic control plans

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:15:55 -0400

PARIS - A massive battle is taking place in the skies over Europe - and airplane passengers across the continent are feeling its effects.

France threatens veto of EU-US trade deal

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:02:26 -0400

STRASBOURG, France - A cloud is hanging over the upcoming free-trade talks between the European Union and the United States after France said it won't back any deal that threatens the country's prestigious film, radio or TV industries.

Europe outrage over NSA tempered by necessity

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:38:05 -0400

BERLIN - Indignation was sharp and predictable across Europe - a continent where privacy is revered. Yet anger over revelations of U.S. electronic surveillance was tempered by an indisputable fact: Europe wants the information that America intelligence provides.